Dozens of Mercer County School District teachers, students, and community members packed the district’s June school board meeting amid contract negotiations on Wednesday.
The Mercer County Education Association (MCEA), which is the union that represents Mercer County’s teachers, is currently in talks with the school district about a new contract for its members. The current contract expires June 30.
MCEA says Mercer County offers less compensation for teachers than the neighboring Rockridge and Sherrard School Districts and the lowest compensation in the Regional Office of Education (ROE) District #33, which includes United, West Central, Monmouth-Roseville, Galesburg, ROWVA, Williamsfield, Knoxville, and Abingdon-Avon.
The supporters wore red, which is part of the nationwide REDforED movement that advocates for increased funding and better working conditions in public education.
WRMJ spoke with Mercer County Schools superintendent Tim Farquer and Mercer County Junior High teacher Monty Smith, who’s on the negotiation team for MCEA.
Both sides say a teacher strike is a possibility when the school year starts, but are committed to working out a deal.
Mercer County Schools superintendent Tim Farquer
Mercer County Junior High teacher Monty Smith